Offering regional and national programs, CIO (and CSO) events bring together some of the most respected names and thought leaders in information technology and security. Presented by CIOs and other senior level executives, these invitation-only programs offer timely topics and strong networking. Learn More »
Public Council Teleconference: Application Rationalization — Hidden Costs and Smart Decisions
November 17 at 11:00 am US/Eastern (GMT-5)
Join Honorio Padrón, of The Hackett Group, who will share the drivers for companies to tackle application rationalization and the results of research that define the hidden cost of complexity. Additionally, we will discuss key decision milestones—to start or not, holding the course steady and fulfilling expectations.
Virtual Desktop Cost-Benefit Analysis — Michael Jacobs, Catlin Group
The analysis contained in this presentation measures the cost of everything from the machines and licenses to the infrastructure for virtual vs. traditional desktop environments.
Honor your best senior team members - Apply for the CIO Ones to Watch Award
Get well-earned public recognition for your top up-and-coming team members, your IT organization and your enterprise. Award winners will be announced, publicized and feted in May 2010, great timing to help attract new IT recruits to your company.
Learn more about the CIO Executive Council »March 15, 2006 — CIO —
One in three workers thinks the time he spent in his last training session probably would have been better spent elsewhere, according to a survey by Hudson, a staffing and consulting services company.
Among these workers, 12 percent think the training was a complete waste of their time.
Although the poll did not ask the 1,674 respondents what their jobs were, Rose Pagliari, an associate director with Hudson’s Learning and Development Group, says the results are relevant to IT workers. “Technology is constantly changing, and for these workers to stay abreast of what’s happening in the market, they need to keep their skills up-to-date,” she says.
Self-improvement was the main reason for participation in training; 68 percent of respondents said they attended training because they thought it would provide useful, job-related information. Another 28 percent said they were told to go. The remaining 3 percent went to training to meet people or to get out of the office.
Pagliari says that for IT training programs to be worthwhile, they need to combine the teaching of new technology skills with education about softer skills, such as business, communication and negotiation, “giving [workers] the ability to become well-rounded businesspeople.”
According to the survey, employees with the highest incomes are the most likely to participate in and benefit from training. However, lower-income employees are the most likely to pursue future training opportunities.
P
agliari says that companies usually invest more in training for their high-income employees because they are further along in their careers and make a more direct contribution to their company’s bottom line. In addition, she says, higher-income workers—because they already have specialized skills—often get more out of training because it’s more targeted to their needs. But training of lower-paid employees can help companies attract and retain talent.
1] Match training to jobs. Training should be related to employees’ job requirements and the skills they need to perform their work. Choose a training program that will teach employees skills that are in demand in their profession or that they will utilize within one to two months of taking the class. This is the best way to ensure that employees get the maximum benefit, Pagliari says.
2] Prepare workers ahead of time. Make sure employees meet any prerequisites for their training and know enough about the subject (including what they want to take away from the course) to actively participate. If the training is not appropriate for employees’ level of expertise, or if they lack enough experience and background knowledge, the training will be a waste of their time and the company’s money.